Cowboys look to run on the Buffs
filed in Pre-game on Oct.07, 2004
To say that the Oklahoma State Cowboys are a good running team is quite an understatement. The Cowboys have gone 4-0 this season by running the ball up the middle. They run the ball and they are not afraid to tell you that they are going to run the ball. It’s a smash mouth style of football and it is working for the Cowboys. Vernand Morency is the fourth leading rusher in the nation averaging over 6.8 yards per carry. As a team the Cowboys are averaging nearly 300 yards on the ground per game. I know they are going to run, you know they are going to run and yet they are still able to run the ball very effectively.
Now if the Cowboys were coming to Folsom after the Buffs first two games, the rushing game advantage might actually lean to Colorado. Colorado surrendered only 60 total rushing yards to WSU and CSU. The Buffs run defense dominated those games. But after being toasted for 611 over their last two games the advantage swings the other direction. The Buffs have to mitigate the Cowboys running attack to have any hope in this game.
When the Cowboys are forced to go to the air the results have been excellent as well. Donavan Woods has a strong arm and his favorite target D’Juan Woods has excellent hands and speed. This pair could cause headaches for the CU secondary. Well, having headaches is sort of par for the course for the CU secondary.
Before we look at what the Buffs plan on doing this weekend we have to look to the injury report. It will dictate a fair amount of the Buffs game plan.
Bobby Purify – Day to Day (shoulder separation)
Quinn Sypniewski – Out (broken ankle)
JJ Billingsley – Out (left knee)
Chris Hollis – Out for season (neck injury)
The list continues with Bernard Jackson, Nick Clement, Chad Cusworth, J.T. Eberly, Vance Washington, Ryan Walters and Patrick Williams just to name a few
Ouch. This rash of injuries has severely crippled the Buffs. On offense, Lawrence Vickers has to shoulder the load. I love this guy and am excited for Shawn Watson to incorporate him into the game plan. Last week, after Purify went down it seemed that Watson was confused and didn’t remember that Vickers was in the ball game. Perhaps a week of planning will eliminate some of that confusion. In addition, we need to get the passing game going again. The keyword for Klatt should be downfield. We have one passing play for over 30 yards this year. That’s it. The reason for the lack of big plays could be because we NEVER throw the ball downfield. I’d like to see the Buffs put the ball up at least a couple times in this game. One more thing for the receivers: RUN ALL THE WAY TO THE FIRST DOWN MARKER! Thank you.
As always the primary goal needs to be hold on to the ball. This week that is especially important. 3 interceptions killed us last week. The Cowboys have a hunger for the turnover this year. They have already registered 14 and boast an impressive +13 on the turnover margin.
Well we are on ABC again this week, so we got that going for us. Above and beyond that, the challenge has been placed before these young Buffs, it is now up to each of them to perform and meet that challenge.
Go Buffs!
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October 7th, 2004 on 4:53 pm
Throwing the ball down the field would be nice. However, I’m not sure Klatt has the time or a speedy reciever able to get open. Against Mizzou he overthrew Blake Mackey on a deep ball and that was the only one I saw him throw.
October 11th, 2004 on 3:10 pm
I think that its obvious that things need to change in Boulder. I think Barnett and Watson have done a horrible job coaching. The play calling on offense is too pridictable, and they seem to have lost their will to win. When you look at other programs even if they don’t have the best players they all had a strong desire to win. I just don’t see that anymore with the buffs under Barnett. Its as if he has no confidence in himself or in his players. If our program is to return to the glory days Barnett and his staff have to go. He will never get this team anywhere.
November 30th, 2006 on 9:19 pm
8df0d68b741e Very good